BOSTON — From the outside it just looks like a barbershop on Washington Street in Egelston Square, but down below, Boston city officials busted an illegal night club running out of the basement.
“They should have done it the right way by getting a permit and getting something to show proof like okay we are legal to do it, don’t do anything illegal, that ruins it for everyone else who’s trying to get one themselves also,” said Malikah Brown, who lives nearby.
The Investigative and Enforcement Team with Boston’s Inspectional Services Department responded to a complaint at 3114 Washington Street.
The inspectors found a makeshift hookah lounge and club and confiscated dozens of hookahs and other vaping and smoking devices.
They also found dozens of chairs, tables, packs of red solo cups, a metal detector and a poker table.
“Basically they had it set up as an underground gambling site honestly for after hours, which they are wrong for doing that,” said Brown.
Brown says she’s not surprised by this discovery.
She’s seen other underground lounges and clubs throughout the area and inside people’s homes.
“There’s a lot of stores and businesses that have this, and they’re still going on and nobody knows unless you physically go in like a normal person and you see it yourself,” said Brown.
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal because if you’re telling me hookah, that sounds like you know it’s nothing, if you’re telling me they’re running a like a drug ring under there, like that’s a real issue,” said Chance Stallings, who lives nearby.
But Inspectional Services says without the proper permits this type of illegal business can be dangerous.
They ordered the owner to close down all illegal activity immediately.
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